“I like it,” Wings general manager Ken Holland said in a phone interview. “It’s excellent for the players.”

The time to “wine and dine” free agents began Wednesday. Teams can begin signing players on July 1.

“Before you’d get to signing day and the player and team would have to make a decision in like an hour or two,” Holland said. “Now teams have the opportunity to let players know they have interest and to tell them how they would fit in on our team.

“It’s an opportunity to see what’s out there, to talk to players we got some interest in, let them know what we’re thinking,” Holland added. “It’s an opportunity to sell your program.”

Sportsnet has learned that goaltender Jonas Gustavsson signed a $1.85-million, one-year extension with the Detroit Red Wings on Wednesday. The contract is in the midst of being finalized, according to sources.

Gustavsson spent the last two seasons in Detroit, where he backed up Jimmy Howard, and compiled a 16-5-4 record in 27 appearances last year. He finished with a .907 save percentage.

The 29-year-old Swede is a five-year NHL veteran with a 57-52-20 career record over 141 games for the Red Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs. His previous contract with Detroit paid him $3 million over two years.

Gustavsson was eligible to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, but goalie jobs are going to be scarce this summer. Most teams are already set at the position and Ryan Miller, Jonas Hiller, Martin Brodeur and others will hit the open market next week.

“Dan Cleary is a guy that when he signed here last year for a one-year deal, we had conversations beyond one year because he had contract offers or three years from a couple of teams,” Holland said.

The Flyers signed him to a PTO and seemingly had a handshake agreement on a three-year deal, but Cleary seemed pretty keen on the chance to re-sign in the city he’s spent the last eight years of his career.

The whole situation with Cleary in Philly was complicated by the Flyers cap situation, which hindered the team from actually signing him with paper and pen and everything until later in camp.

If you wanted him for 2 or 3 @%(*& years, you should have signed him for 2 or 3 @#%(*& years

KH offered a 3 year deal to Cleary prior to July 1, 2013. I am not sure what is crazier, KH offering 3 years to Cleary or Cleary rejecting that offer.
As to Gustafsson, the key here it’s 1 year deal as Mrazek is out of options next year. Are there better free agent goalies there? Possible (Hiller?), but not sure if they will come here to be a backup and not sure if they can be had on 1 year deals. As long as the decision was made to keep Mrazek in AHL (and we already argued about that), $1.85 or $1.5, it does not really matter.

Know what would be cool? If you watched a game this season. Maybe one in the second half of the season, in which there you would see that there is absolutely, positively no question who Detroit’s most valuable player was.

Posted by Garth on 06/24/14 at 11:14 PM ET

Garth, are you saying that to be considered a team’s most valuable player that they shouldn’t be on the Injured Reserve List for the critical second half of the season, but playing in games and making season changing plays? Radical thinking.

He did provide the help the Team needed.(wins) A few extra dollars is fine with me.

Lets Go Red Wings!!!!!

Posted by Kate from Pa.-made in Detroit on 06/25/14 at 07:41 PM ET

Yes he was pretty good, especially for the price. Gave him a small bump to compensate for just a one year deal instead of 2-3 years that he wanted. Odds are one or both goalies are going to have injury time and Mrazek can still get half a dozen or more games with Detroit. I know he feels things can only go downhill for him in the AHL, one more year, bro.

Garth, are you saying that to be considered a team’s most valuable player that they shouldn’t be on the Injured Reserve List for the critical second half of the season, but playing in games and making season changing plays? Radical thinking.

You mean like Zetterberg did, only in the first half, when we were a better team?

You mean like Zetterberg did, only in the first half, when we were a better team?

So Zetteberg doing what Zetterberg is supposed to do on a team that you yourself admit was better (because it was more healthy) is somehow more impressive than Nyquist doing what he did when the management had to go out and trade for a single NHL centre because they had NONE.

Hart Trophy goes to the Most Valuable Player—not the most unexpected goal scorer or “beat the expectations the most” player.
Datsyuk had a down year, while Zetterberg was still near his usual level. Nyquist had a great month, but it took him time to get there, and then he cooled off.
At one point, Gus had 1 goal in 18 games. Then he got hot. 23 goals in 29 games or whatever.

The problem with homers is that they don’t let you appreciate things for what they are.
Nyquist had a splendid season. He was dynamic for awhile. And we definitely needed his important contribution.

But Hart Trophy consideration? That’s where you from being appreciative to ridiculous.

Dan Cleary can’t keep up with the nhl game anymore, he is done so why sign him? He will be taking valuable roster spots and cap space and for what purpose? It is not making the Wings any better and it definitely is not helping them to get discounts on quality free agents, so who exactly is it helping other than Ken Hollands guilty conscious and Dan Cleary’s wallet? Never mind asking the question what Holland even promised him to begin with and why.

Sad attempt at logic, Garth.
Without Zetterberg, the Red Wings do not make the playoffs.
Without Datsyuk, the Red Wings do not make the playoffs.
Without Kronwall, the Red Wings do not make the playofs.

Given that we only got in the playoffs by 3 points, you can probably make this point for 7-8 Red Wings.

Hell, I’ve heard people say, without Legwand, we do not make the playoffs.
LEGWAND FOR HART

So….Cleary has a “handshake” deal with Philly for 3 years.
He walks away from his “handshake deal.”
Signs with Red Wings. Red Wings and Clearly make a handshake deal that the Wings will resign him after the year.
But now the Red Wings have to stay true to their handshake deal?

I dig it. I don’t even have a problem with the whole thing: term and money right on the dime.

Posted by
SYF
from Twerkin' with Anastasia Ashley on 06/26/14 at 10:22 AM ET

My goodness, the calories people are expending over how a spot around the 11th-13th forwards is used.

With all due respect you are missing the point making this statement. Cleary signing will mean at least this 3 things:
1) Jurco starts the year in AHL (KH started Nyquist there, so you can be sure that he will have no problem sending Jurco there). At this point Jurco is a better player and needs to be in the lineup to become even better whether Cleary’s ceiling is 3rd liner in AHL.
2) One of Ferraro or Callahan will be waived because they will have to score 10 goals each in 6 preseason games to “outplay” Cleary and take his spot on the roster. Both players are better than Cleary now and can become better with more experience. A lot of resources were spent on their development and I do not want to lose either for Cleary.
3) It will be a sign that the franchise is going backwards, not forward.

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